Koodankulam Resistance and Kalam’s Propaganda: Kavita Krishnan

The Koodankulam struggle, which has gained tremendous momentum and support in the past few months, reflects the new awareness and questioning among people – in India and globally – regarding nuclear energy, following the Fukushima disaster. The struggle, if successful, will not just prevent the installation of the Koodankulam Nuclear Plant. The UPA Government well knows that the movement’s success will challenge the entire nuclear expansion programme planned by the UPA Government in the wake of the Indo-US Nuke Deal.

A mass indefinite hunger strike by villagers of coastal districts of Tamilnadu (Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari) had forced Tamilnadu CM Jayalalitha to distance herself from the plant. Jayalalitha, during the NDA regime at the Centre had herself supported the project. Now, she has sensed that such support might take a large political toll – and has chosen to let the UPA Government at the Centre bear the political burden alone.

The UPA Government, prevented by the villagers from proceeding with the installation which was scheduled to take place in October, set up an expert panel to look into the safety concerns being raised by the protestors. But this exercise appears to be one of empty placation, which has failed to answer any of the serious issues being raised by local villagers. The ‘expert’ scientists’ assurances having little effect, the NPCIL (Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd) Chairman S K Jain fell back on the absurd and communal accusations of a ‘foreign/missionary hand’ backing the protests! These crude attempts to divide the movement on communal lines and alienate Hindu villagers from the Christian ones has failed entirely, however.

In a desperate attempt to discredit the movement and erode the wider appeal and sympathy it commands across Tamilnadu and the rest of the country, the nuclear establishment and the UPA Government have roped in former President, APJ Abdul Kalam with his image as a technocrat in India’s nuclear establishment. In 2008, too, Kalam had been deployed by the UPA Government in a bid to lend some credibility to the Indo-US Nuke Deal.

Kalam’s plank has been, mainly, an emotive appeal on nationalistic-chauvinistic lines, with a thin veneer of ‘science, technology and development’ rhetoric. He has rubbished the safety concerns raised by protestors in the familiar terms of the sacred goal of ‘development.’ Saying that ‘fear is a disease that kills development,’ he asks if we will allow a tsunami at the Fukushima Daichi plant in Japan to blight India’s future?

In an insult to people’s intelligence, he has chosen to play down the Fukushima disaster that has shaken the world, citing it as an instance of efficient containment of a potential disaster rather than the biggest nuclear disaster in history! His plank is that no lives were lost at Fukushima. What Kalam deliberately plays down is the real significance of Fukushima. Fukushima shook people’s confidence in the safety claims of nuclear plants, worldwide. Kalam tries to tell us the Fukushima plant was based on outdated technology; but it is well known that the people of Japan had been assured several times by the Kalams of their own country, that the Fukushima reactors had the best safety and backup mechanisms capable of dealing with any quake or tsunami. When the tsunami actually hit one of the reactors, the safety and cooling mechanisms broke down and a meltdown was imminent. In desperation the Japanese experts were reduced to using huge amounts of sea water to try and cool the reactor down.

Months later, the leakages continue, and it is absurd to claim that Fukushima is out of danger when the worst is yet to unfold. The problem of safe disposal of the contaminated cooling water and radioactive waste is still an unsolved problem; and it is still not known if the reactor fuel has penetrated the ground. The people of the affected areas are yet to be able to return home.

Kalam even belittles the effects of the Hiroshima-Nagasaki bombing – wanting us to accept research sponsored by the US (responsible for the bombing!) as ‘impartial’ and ‘scientific’ evidence that the effects of a nuclear disaster remain confined only to one generation!

In the wake of the lessons of Fukushima, countries like Germany and Belgium have already had to announce a phase-out of nuclear energy. All over the world, countries are having to bow to the growing popular opinion against nuclear energy, which has proved to have huge hidden costs and unsurpassed potential for massive human tragedy. Kalam undermines his own credibility by asking Indians to ignore and laugh away the lessons of Fukushima.

Kalam is being projected by the nuclear establishment and captive sections of the media as a voice of ‘science and sanity’, who has branded the protesting villagers were ‘ill-informed and misguided’ and beset with irrational fears. When we see Kalam invoking ‘Tamil pride,’ and belittling nuclear disasters by comparing nuclear plants with historical monuments and nuclear disasters with dam bursts, one wonders who is ill-informed! Amusingly, the ‘scientist’ Kalam has chosen to invoke the bogey of the ‘foreign hand,’ saying he suspects “geo-political and market forces” to be behind the stir! To the naked eye, the only ‘foreign’ and ‘market’ forces in Koodankulam are representatives of the Russian nuclear industry!

As a last resort, Kalam has mooted a 200 crore proposal for local development. It is a tragic irony that hospitals, schools and colleges, and development of agriculture and fisheries, that ought to be a right of the local people, is being proffered only as a bribe in exchange for exposing their lives and livelihood to the dangers of a nuclear disaster!

Far from being ‘ill-informed,’ the Koodankulam protestors know that Russian state agencies have, in a recent report, admitted that the Russian industry’s nuclear plants are especially vulnerable to natural and man-made disasters. They know, that raising the height of the reactors to put them out of the probable reach of a tsunami (as Kalam assures) will only make them more vulnerable in case of a quake. They are unwilling to gamble their lives in a game of chance, being forced to live on the edge of a potential Fukushima. They know that while Kalam moots India’s unique Thorium reserves as a potential source of energy, the prestigious and well-funded nuclear research in independent India is yet to come up with a viable way of harnessing thorium reserves to produce anywhere near the levels of energy that had been projected and promised.

The Koodankulam movement has remained undaunted by the heightened government propaganda against it. A national march to Koodankulam is planned in the coming week. The Indo-US Nuke Deal – ushered in by a dubious and corrupt vote in Parliament – paved the way for nuclear expansion efforts whereby the NPCIL plans to set up 32 imported reactors all over India by 2032. The Nuke Liability Bill protects the nuclear suppliers from bearing the burden of compensation and clean-up in case of a disaster. Now, a success of the people’s movement at Koodankulam offers a ray of hope for the country whose rulers are hell-bent on putting its citizens at the mercy of the global nuclear industry and its huge attendant dangers to humanity itself.

Well said Ms.Kavitha. I am in agreement with you on all the points you spoke of. We all wish the movement to become success. Success cannot be achieved by wishing it alone. A sustained, well knit, organised movement is required. Since the Koodankulam movement has a national significance, success of the movement to a large extent depends upon building the movement at national level in support of the struggling people of Idinthakarai under the banner Peoples movement against nuclear energy headed by Mr. Udayakumar. Only a nationwide powerful sustained movement can vipeout the smoke created by people like Mr. Kalam.

Ignatius Fernando

Thank you, Kavitha, for projecting the truth behind the ant-nuke movement. Yes, the Govt. seems to be handling the current situation without any regard for the apprehensions of the vulnerable, peaceful protesters, who are yet to fully recover from the shock and loss embraced through the devastating Tsunami. It is very unfortunate that a religious colour is being given in some quarters to create communal disharmony. Well, another Tsunami could only affect the shore-based, but a nuclear disaster will destroy every "Amar, Akbar and Anthony." Every citizen, irrespective of caste, religion and social standing, should strive to pass on a safer world to those who are to follow us.

Recently, Mr.Kalam recommended a few projects for development around Koodankulam. Why should an area get a face-lift through the presence of a Nuclear Monster? The inhabitants of the area are blessed with fertile soil and they need water, which could be met by extending a channel from Kumari District, to revive their agricultural activities.

Our fishermen are attacked in mid-sea by the Lankan Navy and, back on shore find themselves receiving the wrath of our own Govt for opposing the Nuclear Project. Adding salt to the wound, the seafood exporters of Kerala (understandably) have indicated that they will be less willing to procure the catch from coastal belt borne by Koodankulam on either side. WILL OUR GOVERNMENT CREATE A GOVERNMENT-RUN EXPORT HOUSE IF THE KERALITES LET THESE FISHERMEN DOWN?

dingo

Why is the church and mainly the american ones funding these protestors……any business interests in serving their masters ….in the evangelical military-religious establishemnt.

krishna kumar

Please don’t try to deviate the issues. Kudankulam-1&2 project is not the birth product of UPS’s Indo-US deal. For your information, some of the milestones and histories

a) The discussion about the project started during Smt. Indira Gandhi’s period.

b) Inter Government Agreement was made on Nov-20, 1988 , between Late Rajiv Gandhi and then Soviet President Mikhail Garbachev. At that time in Tamil nadu ADMK was in power and centre is ruled by Congress).

c) In 1997, supplement to 1988 agreement was signed between Shri.H.D.Dev Gowda and Russian president Boris Yeltsin. At that time in Tamil nadu DMK was in power and United Front government was power in Centre and 13 political parties were there in the United Front alliance including Left parties.

d) Kudankulam project deal was signed in 2001 between Shri. A.B.Vajpayee and Shri. Vladimir putin. At that time in tamil nadu ADMK government was in power and Puratchi Thalaivi Amma was the chief minister.

So since 1988 all the political leaders and parties involved in the progress of the project. Because of the above, the project is almost completed and it is ready to deliver the power and eradicate darkness from our country and minds of Kavita and Fernando.

Supreed Kumar

Dear Mr.Ignatius,

You are talking of the safety of the land, a tsunami can destroy only a small area as you claims…But have u ever thought of the global warming. The whole earth is going to to be flooded soon. And the main culprit are the hydrocarbon based power plants. Why are you not agitating against those plants. Why dont you take a decision that none of you will use electricity for any use since its generated from some Nuclear or Thermal Power Plant. Is it possible for u to live without electricity ???

I am a Keralite , As far as a Keralite is concerned Mullaperiyar Dam is a a really monster and not Kudankulam plant. Almost 60% of Kerala and lakhs of people of Kerala are in the brim of getting washed away to the Arabian Sea, Why are you not forcing Tamilnadu government to build a new dam. Are Keralites ur toys to play with ???

jose Paul

Mr. Supreed
Your worry about Mullaperiyar became true. 3.5 magnitude Earthquake happened yesterday morning. There was a large crack developed on the dam. quantity of leakage increased. many new leak points are developed. Nobody is bothered about that dam because no money rich lobby is there to speak against mullaperiyar or any other hydro project. From this example you convince yourself that the reason of protest against Kudamkulam is not the fear of safety but only the power of money.

Sunil Choudhury

global warming is caused due to CO2 due to burning of fossil fuels not due to nuclear projects, Thorium projects are cleaner than thermal and uranium projects.

venkat

Dear author,

Before you are writing some thing better you go to the past and find afetr how many steps we have reached to this state. You are linking INDO-US nuke deal, UPA government etc .. etc.. with kudankulam project. After reading your article any educated people will laugh at your face. As krishna kumar rightly written the steps and timings involved to reach present state is very much right. Better you stop writing these cheating/nomeaning articles and do some justice on what you have studied and learnt.

You are wrting some thing about height also, better you should know your self that you don't know the basics about the quake theory. Use your internet to update basics about quake theory. Finally try to do justice to your heart, don't write unrealistic theories and your views. Work for nation.

Nulear power is very safe and green power. It is only the solution for future.

krishna kumar

Mr Ignatius

Why are you confusing with so many issues.

When we talk about kudankulam, you switched to Fishermen problem, Srilankan problem.

When we talk about Tsunami related problem, you started raising cancer, radiation etc. you are trying to mix science with politics.

When we talk about Plant safety, you are making aligations with centre and state.

Plant management cleared that Pachiparai or Tamiraparani water is not needed Plant and township. Now you are making that as the issue.

I believe, Kudankulam plant came as a issue because of Fukushima. So we can see it in that angle. just postulate Fukushima type situation here and see what will happen?

So my request is in the light of Fukushima, just check our plant safety capability to handle the accident and impact to public. Please don't rise old issues of dam, govt, fishing will affect etc. These issues I am hearing Since 1988.

Now just see, if Tsunami comes what will happen to plant. First of all our areas not earthquake prone zones. From the report I understand that the plant is constrcuted with Tsunami height which is double than what kudankulam felt during 26.12.2004. Place won't be flooded with the tsunami.

Eventhen it is flooded then???

Fukushima they lost cooling water and power. In kudankulam air cooled heat exchangers are there. From "Sun News" , I understand that, the heat exchangers are kept on the top of the building. With this arrangement, cooling will be excuted. Kudankulam management repeatly explaining this through media.

Please we can try understand the systems available for safety and compare with Fukushima and then decide………………

Excellent write up by Ms.Kavita Krishnan.All the proponents of Killer Nuclear plantas like krishna kumar,supreed kumar and venkat must understand that the hazards of Nuclear power are better to the suppliers of the reactors and the plant operators who miserably failed to convince the insurance companies to provide insurance against disastrous consequences which ran into Rs4 lakhcrores in case of Fukushima as estimated by Japan.As per safety standards,do you know that in US,the plant operators prepare Emergency preparedness plans upto80km.from the plant site as per web sitehttp://www.nrc.gov/about-nrc/emerg-preparedness/a…

http://news.businessweek.com/article.asp?document…
I am herewith furnishing the web site on kudankulam Reactor accident scenario which is a basic requirdement for discussion with the public to take their consent before starting the plants.Did you ask for presentation of these basic reports in the public interests before criticising others for trivial things.plese go through the websites and work to save the people of Tamilnadu and kerala instead of blindly supporting the vested interests

As a Keralite I had been frequently putting my doubts regarding Mullaperiyar…y none of my Tamilian friends who are worried about human life around Kudankulam are responding to it???? Are Keralites any kind of worms, they can be killed in any manner !!!

Sankara Menon

are bhai there is no church support based on instructions from Rome instructed by GEC is there. So they ignore. The charecter Kavita Krishnan will say nja nja nja if you ask her about Mullaperiyar. it is a pity i do not have her mail. i would have asked her.

jose paul

Mr. Supreed,
No need of boiling blood. Your politicians and money rich industrialist are not bothered about common people's life. They are looking to increase their profit out of any circumstances. In Kerala there is no scope of one more thermal plant. Even Kayamkulam NTP thermal electricity kerala is not purchasing due to higher tariff. Antinuclear lobby will not give you any answer to your question related to Mullaperiyar.

Sankara Menon

Dear Ms. Subhashini:

The present article is a lot of tripe by a woman activist CITU puppet who does not know what area of the body she is speaking from. typical commie double talk. People fall for it. How is Fukushima relevant here? It is a 40 year old unsafe system where as Kundankulam is 4th Generation system that takes into account the various (4 I think) disasters that happened in FIFTY years. There have been train accidents killing 100s did we abandon trains? There were air disasters. Have we abandoned air travel? There have been dam bursts. Have we abandoned dams? So whats special about nuclear plants. The only thing relevant here is that this is a Russian plant and the US did not get contract to build plants using the disastrous Fukushima technology WITHOUT liability for damages. Further what were the problems with fukushima damage control? remote area with arctic conditions and continuous earthquakes.

Do not jump in and start talking based on google mama knowledge. Thats not the way one does things. Please tell me in seriatim the issues you think are there. Do not just give urls. Give me issues with supporting material. i will answer.

venkat

@Mrs. P. Subhshini,

Before pasting the US NRC website, kindly gothrough it and comment on that. What do you mean by emergency prepardness do you people know about it, With out any knowledge about emrgency prepardness don't comment on that. In you refernce website only they have written only for 10 miles evacuation is required, beyond that only "protective action plans " are required. So in indian context also they will be similar only in case of emergency. As per the kudankulam design is concerned it will not come. one more refernce about the " kudankulam Reactor accident scenario".. kindly do not coat any un-identified, un-experienced persone's views.

In that paper he is even going for 170 km. If any people who are reading with the basic knowledge (as per your given reference of NRC website), cleraly understands that author is completly fooling the unknow people by showing radiation as "HELL"..

Again iam saying, you educated people kindly go to the basics and do justice to you heart, don't write these writeup's for any sposership, really this will stop our great indian growth.

Be a real patriotic, Nulear power is very safe and green power. It is only the solution for future.

Iniyavan

Thanks Kavitha, for bringing some more facts on the nuclear project.

Thanks DiaNuke, for supporting the genuine protest of the people. Almost all the mainstream, corporate media are pro-government in this issue. Their coverage is totally biased. Media like DiaNuke are the voice of the voiceless.

Surely the government will take stern actions to commence the project in coming days. The government must not succeed. This tussle is not only between the people and New Delhi. It's between the people and the cruel-minded super powers of the world.

K.V.Rajeev

You are thanking Dianuke! Who had launched this website? If people are so concerned about nuclear safety why people behind this web-site are not revealing their identity? last not least, what is the connection between this web-site and Monash university, Australia? Please see http://en.utrace.de/?query=dianuke.org

-K.V.Rajeev

Jose Paul

Ms. Kavitha,

I hope the detailed history of Indo-Russian nuclear agreement is clear to you. Don’t write on unknown issues first. Second today so many sources are there to gather information please use that before start writing.

Please control yourself when you touch the communal issues. None of the medias are reported that CMD of NPCIL had accused that ‘missionary hands’ are behind the agitation. He hinted that sign of ‘foreign anti nuke hands' are behind the issue. You antinuclear lobbies are spreading such misleading information to the innocents for make your agitation a success.

I have noticed one thing that till yesterday you have given full respect to Hon.Ex.President Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam. But when he spoke out the truth you people started abusing him and calling disrespectfully 'Kalam'. Even some of your friends telling he is not a scientist. What a tragedy Kavithaji?

As per your belief the earthquake in Arabian sea or Bangal ocean will definitely happen. Tsunami waves will strike to main land and destroy the costal life. Human life and property lose in costal area will be very high. Nuclear power plant will aggravate the gravity of disaster. What government should do in this scenario? Evacuate the all costal side now itself. The reason is that earthquake and tsunami can happen at any time. So as a precaution, population should be allowed only few kilometers away from costal only. All cities should be reconstructed far away from costal side. If government not do such precautionary measures even after getting strong prediction from eminent antinuclear scientists tomorrow this laps from government side will be questioned.

Kudamkulam people are very scared about the tsunami. Evacuation started from there itself.

Sankara Menon

My dear Josepaul:

This agitation is US inspired church supported anti-national activity. I will assert that. poor illiterate folk are made the scapegoat for putting pressure on India to accept US made unsafe reactors without liability in the event of a disaster. simple as that. Fukushima is a convinient tool being used. There is no similarity between fukushima and kundankulam.

Puneet Swaroop

I don't understand how any one can comment on a very specialized scientific issues like Nuclear Power.

When, for a heart problem you don't consult with the lung specialist even though both are MBBS quqlified

When you don't go to a civil lawyer for criminal case even though both are LLB quqlified

Eec., etc.

How X,Y and Z started giving verdicts on nuclear science? and started fooling the innocent people with like" neem hakims " playing with their day-to-day life by fearing them about their livelihood and life by spreading rummer.

Ms Kavita, with due respect I want to inform you and your associates the following thing about the kudankulam NPP and challenge all the anti- nucs to prove scientifically – how Fukushima type incident can happen at KKNPP?

1) First of all, India is not Japan, which is geographically located in an area where several continental and oceanic plates meet causing of frequent high energy earthquakes and tsunamis. For example Kudankulam site is located far off (about 1500 km) from the tsunamigenic fault (where tsunamis originate). Thus, if there is a tsunami, it would take time and lose its energy by the time it strikes Kudankulam site. Whereas the tsunamigenic fault was only about 130 km away at Fukushima.

2) Secondly, the reactors at Kudankulam are much more safe and has many advance active safety systems with several passive safety systems.

3) Even with such tsunami and complete power failure, the safety systems at Kudankulam like the passive quick boron injection system for additional sub-criticality, the passive heat removal system for continuous removal of the decay heat eliminating any chances of boiling , passive hydrogen recombiners for continuous removal of hydrogen safeguarding against any explosions, passive hydro accumulators providing long-term borated water in case of break in pipe of primary coolant system, passive annulus space cleaning & de-pressuring system and the complete double containment WILL NOT ALLOW ANY UNSAFE EVENT.

4) As an ultimate safety against any sever hypothetical event, passive core catcher is also provided to contain the core and restrict the release of any radioactivity into the environment.

With advanced safety systems it is not at all possible to have any unsafe event at Kudankulam.

C) These safety features are certified by the Russian regulatory authority-GAN

D) These safety features are certified by the national regulatory authority AERB and the national nuclear experts from BARC.

E) The Environment Impact assessment is done by NEERI ( Report available on NPCIL web site)

F) Environmental clearance is given by MoEF

What the anti nucs think that all above independent organisations which has done in-depth analysis has no credentials and we have certify the safety of Kudankulam Plant by people like Ms Kavita and Mr Udai Kumar?

I know , nuclear science is a difficult subject, if you people are really worried about the safety of plant and people , please contact any nuclear expert at KKNPP site or AERB, BARC, NPCIL you will be explained about the complete systems.

Ignatius Fernando

Well, we do not live in an alternate Universe. It's very easy to bombard the innocent folks (who are neither interested in your apparent knowledge of science nor willing to buy chocolate-coated goodies) by your sheer speculations, which prove be a paper over a crack. Shown compassion and study the ground realities. We can not conveniently avoid answering certain vital questions. Could some one answer this question, please : "Adding salt to the wound, the seafood exporters of Kerala (understandably) have indicated that they will be less willing to procure the catch from the coastal belt borne by Koodankulam on either side. WILL OUR GOVERNMENT CREATE A GOVERNMENT-RUN EXPORT HOUSE IF THE KERALITES LET THESE FISHERMEN DOWN?"

Supreed Kumar

Dear Mr. Ignatius,

You are again verymuch concerned about fish exporting, but as of now you are not even allowing the poor fisherman to go sea and do their fishing. Nor you are allowing their children to go to school and do their education. You are forcing all these to be in ur agitation STALL.

I guess u know about the method of FOOD IRRADIATION . Almost all the food items u consume today has undergone this process. This is done using the isotopes of cobalt and cesuim. How can you consume these products, if radiation is affecting food products !!!!

Jose Paul

Your imaginary question does not deserve answer. Since you have raised the same question repeatedly other readers should not misunderstood that your question is valid that is why nobody is giving reply. I do not under stand that from where you the information regarding Kerala Seafood exporters refuse to export the fish from Kudamkulam sea line.

Thottappilly fishing harbour, needakara fishing harbour, Cochin fishing Harbor, harbour, Azheekkal harbour, mopila bay fishing harbour are some the major fishing harborurs in Kerala. Tamilnadu is having its own fishing harbours. The following fishes are exported from Kerala Mud crab, Cuttle Fish, Squid, Shrimps, Ribbon Fish, tuna fish, malabar trevally, red snapper fish, reef cod fish, seer fish, emperor fish, ghol fish, live mud crab, sand lobster, leather jacket fish, king fish, prawns etc. Mr. Fernando I am not questioning your knowledge in fishing but you should know basic fishing methods. (1) costal side fishing (2) deep see fishing. Costal side fishing is doing nearby costal area fishermen by using small boats and deep see fishing is doing with the help of big boats and ships. Mr. Fernado before raising question repeatedly you should atleast know that Kudamkulam is not of Kerala. Fishes from Kudamkulam is not coming to Kerala for exporting purpose. I hope now you might have understood why did I say that your question was imaginary one.

Ignatius Fernando

Mr.Paul, This is possibly the last reaction from me to you. You and others in your pro-nuke league (Government-backed, I reckon) here are only looking at one side of the coin. With a trace of compassion, you could have made an attempt to interact with the nearly-affected people on the coast line of Kaniyakumari, Tirunelveli and Tuticirin Districts. Unless you delve deep into the bed of fear-generation, you are wasting your time and that of others. Again, I request you and all in your group to interact with the innocent, fasting protesters before declaring a question as "imaginary." Democracy borne by Baratha Matha can not be hi-jacked by a few for the sake of installing a NUCLEAR MONSTER!

Ignatius Fernando

Mr.Paul, You are disconnected from reality. Just go on a ride from Kollencode (past Poovar in Kerala) to Rameswaram (Tamil Nadu) and visit each village chief to know the truth. Have a patient look at the vehicles getting in and out of the cold storages which punctuate the highways and their arteries : you'll find KL registered vehicles and not Tamil Nadu ones. What are they coming to fetch? Fish. Yes, fish. The Kerala-based exporters have contributed a lot for enhancing the profits of our fishermen.

There are two sides to a coin, Mr.Paul.Please do not expect everyone to accept your views.

“Adding salt to the wound, the seafood exporters of Kerala (understandably) have indicated that they will be less willing to procure the catch from the coastal belt borne by Koodankulam on either side. WILL OUR GOVERNMENT CREATE A GOVERNMENT-RUN EXPORT HOUSE IF THE KERALITES LET THESE FISHERMEN DOWN?” Someone answer this question. Jai Hind!

Jose Paul

Mr.Fernando,
You are simply quoting something and try to prove that. If there is no airport or seaport in Tamilnad, exporter will cross the state limit to export the goods to abroad. Since Tamilnadu is having sufficient number of seaports and airport who will bring goods to other state by paying extra fright charge and sales tax? You can make fool to your people not all.

We pronuclear people are ready to do one to one debate on any subject. Are you ready? Are you allow us to visit the nearby village to tell the truth? But today I have heard a shocking news that you people are not allowing any outsiders to communicate with village people. The reason is that if people come

You people are celebrating the strike there. You people do not understand the language of softness. Thermal lobbies money is playing there? Enjoy with selfish per day earnings and betray your nation for petty cash.

ramya vaid

well done kavita we need more people like you to save our country from the greedy murderers

jose paul

Ms. Ramya,
If you realy want to save your contry from greedy thermal lobby support KNPP and Indian nuclear power programm. Mr.Udyakumar, Mr. Pushparayan and other striking leaders are real puppet of thermal lobby. They are betraying our country by accepting crores of rupees from thermal lobby. They are cheating the innocent people. You don't forget the Singure "nano" history. Now Ms.Mamta is in chief minister's cabin and Singure farmers are in street. Tomorrow striking leaders will be in mansions and kudamkulam people will be in fishing boats.

mindarticulated

Here is the Truth – All these resistance are created by foreign agents just because the current work at Kudamkulam is undertaken by Russia. Using christian missionaries as a cover is an age old trick of the capitalist families of the West who run the US Govt.
Kudamkulam plant already has reactors and opposing it now is foolishness and treason. If Dr. Kalam says the plant is safe, and if a thousand fishermen under a west sponsored missionary say its unsafe, sorry we will go with what the scientist say only.
Bottom line – If we Kudamkulam project is hindered – make sure none of the other nuclear projects in pipeline to be undertaken by the west is sanctioned. That way its fair and agreeable. Lets go solar. ;)

durai

Majority of south Indians welcome the project. KKNPP faced similar agitation in year 2001 and later on all locals were fully convinced with NPCIL replies and they supported the project whole heartedly. When the project actually started, the local villagers welcomed NPCIL engineers with garlands , cut outs and arches and our officials were treated with due respect. It is pertinent to note that Kudankulam locals were so involved and impressed with the project, that they always invite NPCIL and Russian engineers to joint for pongal celebrations.Such was the kind of influence NPCIL had in south India particularly with locals nearby KKNPP.
kudankulam Nuclear plant not only will generate power, it generates employment opportunities employing thousands of local peoples, developing local industries, progressing in mastering the nuclear technology , its applications for peaceful purpose and helps to have international cooperation and relations with our friend Russia. Hence the Kudankulam nuclear plant is necessary for development of our country.

It may be noted that renewable energy sources/technology are still being developed and being done in small scales only because of cost and other reasons. It may take another decade for wind, solar to be fully competitive. The 40 years of nuclear experience, ready made technological advantage, tremendous power potential is the need of time for power cuts Tamilnadu.

We shall also note that the developing India has to grab all the possible energy sources .No other energy sources gives the amount of energy that nuclear gives. Developed countries used nuclear energy to become so .Why can’t we use the same sources which is proven and we have 20 plants operating with high safety factors for last 40 years. Therefore clean, green and cheap Kudankulam nuclear in our energy mix is the need of hour and is the truth.

Sunil Choudhury

India has the world’s largest thorim reserves, around 33% of total reserves and 12% is economically extractable. but we dont have any reserves of petroleum and natural gas.
several dollar chasing communist leaders like this are funded from west to stop nuclear projects so that India pays them for petroleum energy